Teacher Education Access Course for Mature Learners 2014/15 Pilot Programme. What is the Teacher Education Access Course for Mature Learners?

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1 Teacher Education Access Course for Mature Learners 2014/15 Pilot Programme What is the Teacher Education Access Course for Mature Learners? The Teacher Education Access Course for Mature Learners is a pilot programme offered by Mary Immaculate College in partnership with the City of Limerick Vocational Educational Committee, Adult Education Service, and is designed for mature learners who wish to gain entry to the B.Ed. (Primary Education) at the College. The course is aimed at anyone over the age of 22 by January 1 st on the year of application, who is interested in applying to the B.Ed (Primary Education) and who does not hold the minimum entry requirements (please see Appendix A for details). The course takes place on Friday evening from 7.00pm to 9.00pm and Saturdays (9.30am to 5.30pm) and runs from Friday, 12 th September 2014 to the end of May Aims and objectives of the course: Equip students with the necessary skills to participate in, and benefit from, a third level course Provide students with an opportunity to experience the satisfaction that can be gained from learning Offer students an opportunity to obtain the minimum requirements for entry to the profession Build up confidence in a supportive learning environment Provide a direct access route to the MIC B.Ed.(Primary Education) Provide an alternative access route to third level for mature students Subjects on offer: The programme is designed to offer participants an opportunity to obtain the prerequisite entry requirements to the B. Ed programme (see Appendix A). Therefore, two subjects at honours Leaving Certificate level will be offered (Gaeilge and English). In addition, students will study a further two compulsory modules: 1. Introduction to Studies in Education. Topics covered include: The Irish Education System, Various Types of Primary School in Ireland Structure of the Irish Primary School,

2 The Irish Primary School Curriculum, Mechanisms for Parent-Teacher Collaboration 2. Work experience in a setting with young children 1 (Reflective Journal to be submitted) What do I get afterwards? Those who successfully complete the course and fulfil the minimum entry requirements for the B.Ed will be offered a place on the BED (Primary) Degree programme in MIC. Minimum Entry Requirements: All applicants must have completed the Leaving Certificate and must have passed at least three subjects in the Leaving Certificate at either higher or ordinary level, including Mathematics. In addition to the three passes, applicants must have a C3 in an honours subject. Intending applicants are requested to carefully read the attached entry requirements for the B.Ed from the Department of Education & Skills (Appendix A), and take particular note of the requirement for three honours and three passes in the Leaving Cert. The essential subjects are an honour in Irish and passes in English and Maths. How do I to apply? You will need to complete an application form, provide two written references and return to the Admissions Office at MIC no later than Friday, 6 th June All eligible applicants will be invited for interview either 18 th or 19 th June, and will receive written notification of same. Course Costs for 2014/2015: 400 per annum payable in two instalments of 200 at the commencement of each semester. There is no charge if you are in receipt of social welfare, on a jobs initiative, on a CE scheme or are a medical card holder. 1 In line with child protection guidelines, all applicants will need to comply with Garda vetting requirements. In addition, all candidates are required to complete a health declaration questionnaire for submission to the College Medical Officer before being accepted for the BEd. degree course.

3 Contacts: For Course Information Contact the Course Co-ordinator : Margaret OKeeffe Faculty of Education, MIC South Circular Road, Limerick Application forms Contact the Admissions Office : Lillian Monahan, The Admissions Office MIC South Circular Road, Limerick margaret.okeeffe@mic.ul.ie admissions@mic.ul.ie

4 APPENDIX A AN ROINN OIDEACHAIS AGUS SCILEANNA RIACHTANAIS IONTRÁLA DO CHÚRSAÍ OIDEACHAIS MAR MHÚINTEOIR BUNSCOILE 2014 COMÓRTAS DO SCOLÁIRÍ LÁNFHÁSTA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND SKILLS ENTRY REQUIREMENTS FOR INITIAL TEACHER EDUCATION COURSES FOR PRIMARY TEACHERS 2014

5 MATURE STUDENTS COMPETITION 1. Application for admission to a Bachelor of Education Degree Programme as a mature candidate A four year full-time course leading to a Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) Degree is held in each of the following Higher Education Institutions for primary teachers: Church of Ireland College of Education, Rathmines, Dublin 6 Marino Institute of Education, Griffith Avenue, Dublin 9 Mary Immaculate College, South Circular Road, Limerick St. Patrick s College, Drumcondra, Dublin 9 Froebel Department of Primary and Early Childhood Education, NUI Maynooth., Maynooth, Co Kildare (Contact details for the Higher Education Institutions are set out at Appendix 1) Applications are made through the Central Applications Office (CAO) by 1 st February Mature applicants must not be less than 23 years of age on 1 January of the year of entry (1 January 2014 for entry in autumn 2014) Persons who successfully complete this course may be registered with the Teaching Council under Regulation 2 (Primary). 2. Minimum Academic Requirements 2014 Leaving Certificate Examination Leaving Certificate Examination 1992 or later General

6 Grade C3 on a Higher Level paper in not less than three subjects Grade D3 in three other subjects in accordance with the Rules and Programme for Secondary Schools. Essential Subjects Irish: Grade C3 Higher Level English: Grade C3 Ordinary Level or D3 Higher Level Mathematics: Grade D3, either Ordinary or Higher Level Leaving Certificate Examination 1969 to 1991 General Grade C on a Higher Level paper in not less than three subjects. Grade D in three other subjects in accordance with the Rules and Programme for Secondary Schools. Essential Subjects Irish: Grade C Higher Level English: Grade C Ordinary Level or D Higher Level Mathematics: Grade D, either Ordinary or Higher Level Leaving Certificate Examination prior to 1969 To be eligible to apply for the competition, applicants who sat the Leaving Certificate Examination prior to 1969 must hold an Honours Leaving Certificate with Honours in Irish. In English one must have obtained marks equivalent to Grade C at Pass level or Grade D at Honours level. One must also have passed in Mathematics. Combination of results in different Leaving Certificate Examinations Applicants may combine results obtained at the Leaving Certificate Examination in different years for the purpose of meeting the academic requirements.

7 Acceptable alternatives for Irish, English or Mathematics A pass in a University First Arts Examination in Irish, English or Mathematics will be accepted in lieu of the Leaving Certificate Examination/GCE/GCSE requirement for that particular subject. In the case of Irish, a Grade C in the Matriculation Examination (which existed up to 1992) will also be accepted in lieu of the Leaving Certificate Examination/GCE/GCSE requirement. In addition the following are accepted as satisfying the Leaving Certificate Examination/GCE/GCSE requirement. Dioplóma sa Ghaeilge, NUI Maynooth, Teastas Eorpach na Gaeilge (TEG) at Level B2, NUI Maynooth Diploma in Arts (Applied Irish), University College Cork, Dioplóma sa Ghaeilge Fheidhmeach,UCD, Dioplóma sa Ghaeilge, Level C1, NUIG Dioplóma sa Ghaeilge, Level B2, NUIG Dioplóma sa Ghaeilge (An Ghaeilge sa Saol Comhaimseartha), University of Limerick Diploma in Irish at the University of Ulster, In the case of Mathematics only, a pass in that subject in the Matriculation Examination (discontinued) will also be accepted in 2014 in lieu of the Leaving Certificate Examination/GC(S)E requirement. The minimum academic requirements for GC(S)E and GCE A Level and AS Level Examinations are set out in Appendix Selection Process Once applicants have satisfied the minimum academic requirements, selection is on the basis of a competitive General Interview and a competitive Oral Irish Examination. The CAO will eligible applicants with a link to the supplementary application form

8 and instructions regarding other necessary steps. The CAO will include applicants who have indicated that they are taking a Leaving Certificate/GC(S)E in 2014 as provisionally eligible on the basis that their actual Leaving Certificate results will be unknown until August. The closing date for the return of the completed supplementary application form and attachments to the Institution(s) is 5.15 p.m. on 4 th April The results of these tests will be graded and allocated points as follows: Interview Oral Irish Examination A 100 A 40 A- 90 B 32 B 80 C 24 B- 70 D 16 C 60 E Fail C D 40 E Fail Applicants who have failed the General Interview on two previous occasions are not eligible for the competition. Part of the General Interview may be conducted in Irish. Information on the General Interview and Oral Irish Examination is available from the Higher Education Institutions. Applicants who get a "fail" grade in either the General Interview or the Oral Irish Examination are eliminated from the competition. The remaining applicants are placed in an order of merit determined by the results of the General Interview and Oral Irish Examination combined. There are three separate order of merit lists one common list for St. Patrick s College, Drumcondra; Froebel Department of Primary and Early Childhood Education, NUI Maynooth; and Marino Institute of Education; one for Mary Immaculate College, Limerick; and one for the Church of Ireland College of Education.

9 Where two or more applicants obtain the same points, their placement on the order of merit will be determined by random selection. Each Institution will fill its places by reference to the relevant order of merit list and offers are made through the CAO using the normal allocation process, working down through the applicant s preferences to find the highest preference for which the applicant is entitled to receive an offer, if any. Some high merit applicants will be made offers through the CAO in early July (Round A). The remaining applicants including those awaiting 2014 examination results may be made offers through the CAO in Mid- August (Round 1). If necessary, offers may be made in subsequent rounds. Please note that any offer will be subject to fulfilling the minimum entry requirements. An offer by one of the Institutions listed above is subject to the applicant not receiving a higher offer from a Higher Education Institution through the CAO for another course. Successful applicants who accept places are required to enter the Higher Education Institutions in autumn (actual dates available from the individual Institutions). In special circumstances, at the discretion of the Higher Education Institution authorities, the date of entry may be deferred for a limited period. 4. Additional Information Proficiency in Irish language: 1. Gaeltacht Course Attendance and Cost: All students of primary initial teacher education are required to attend a residential course in the Gaeltacht. It should be noted that this is a compulsory part of the course. From the start of the 2012/13 academic year, the cost of this compulsory course is no longer met by the Department of Education & Skills. 2. Oral Irish Test: In addition, applicants should note that students will be subject to an oral Irish test at the end of their first year of initial teacher education, and must pass this

10 test in order to continue to the second year of the course. Students who fail this oral Irish test may, at the discretion of the Higher Education Institution, be allowed to repeat the test. Student Grants: A new online only grant application system is in place. Applications are to be made online through the single awarding authority, Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) at Scholarships: Easter Week Commemoration Scholarships, Gaeltacht University Scholarships and Irish Language Third Level Scholarships will be replaced with a new single scheme of bursaries based on merit. Details of the new scheme are available from Higher Education - Equity of Access Unit, Department of Education & Skills, Tullamore, Co. Offaly (Telephone: ). Fitness to Practise: 1. Garda Vetting: Before a Higher Education Institution can complete a student registration, the Higher Education Institution requires that all incoming teacher education students are required to undergo a process of Garda vetting in order to establish whether they have any convictions or criminal charges pending. Where this process confirms the existence of such, the matter is referred to a Vetting Committee within the Institution which decides whether the student can continue with his/her programme of study. 2. Medical Requirements: The Higher Education Institutions require that all incoming teacher education students complete a medical information form, indicating whether they have any significant ongoing illnesses or disabilities which might adversely impact their capacity to meet the requirements of the course, including School Placement. Entrants who declare health conditions, disabilities or psychological conditions will be assessed on an individual basis to evaluate whether, with reasonable accommodations, they would have the ability to undertake the demands of the programme. Individuals will not be excluded on the grounds that they possess a particular condition or disability if it is

11 deemed likely that it would be possible for that person to fulfil the requirements of the course with reasonable accommodation(s). The Higher Education Institutions will advise students as to the procedure to be followed in this regard.

12 Appendix 1 Higher Education Institutions Contact Details Church of Ireland College of Education Upper Rathmines Road Dublin 6 Telephone: (01) info@cice.ie Website: Marino Institute of Education Griffith Avenue Dublin 9 Telephone: (01) admissions@mie.ie Website: Froebel Department of Primary and Early Childhood Education NUI Maynooth Maynooth, Co. Kildare Telephone: (01) admissions@nuim.ie Website: Mary Immaculate College South Circular Road Limerick Telephone: (061) admissions@mic.ul.ie Website: St. Patrick's College Drumcondra, Dublin 9 Telephone: (01) admissions.office@spd.dcu.ie Website:

13 Appendix 2 Minimum Qualifications in GC(S)E and GCE AS and A Level Examinations for admission to the Bachelor of Education Degree Course General Six subjects must be presented, at least three subjects at GCE A Level and the remaining subjects at GCE AS or GC(S)E level. The six subjects must include Irish, English and Mathematics. A subject may be counted from only one of the examinations, GC(S)E, GCE AS Level or GCE A Level. Only subjects taken at one sitting of a particular examination, GC(S)E, GCE AS Level or GCE A Level, will be accepted. Examinations taken in the same academic year are regarded as the same sitting. Specific requirements in Irish, English & Mathematics. Grade C at GCE A level in at least three subjects, including Irish Grade C at GC(S)E Level in both English and English Literature, or Grade B at GC(S)E Level in either Grade D at GC(S)E Level in Additional Mathematics or Grade C at GC(S)E Level in Mathematics Grade C in one other subject at GC(S)E level Applicants must satisfy the matriculation requirements of the University to which the Higher Education Institution is affiliated.